Marc-Andre Hamelin - Alkan: Symphony for Solo Piano
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Canadian Music Store Music Reviews of Alkan: Symphony for Solo PianoMusic Review: Hamelin the invincible
I discovered this CD was coming out at least 6 months before it was due to hit stores, I got it as soon as it was available. As with all of Hamelin's recordings I am not disappointed. Hamelin's technical powers put this recording at the top of any Alkan "symphony" recording I have heard (and I've heard most of the ones out there, Lewenthal, Ponti, Gibbons, Martin...). Hamelin's sense of phrasing is unique and sheds some interesting lights on the composers thoughts. Hamelin is always clear, never over pedaled and never muddy. Hamelin brings energy and fire to all of the movements, especially the 3rd and 4th (I have never heard a faster performance of either). None of the notes get lost as is the case with the Lewenthal and Ponti recordings. The other pieces op.45, op.6, op.52 and op.15 are equally amazing. The alleluia op.25 is a piece easily made boring, but Hamelin finds a way to keep it interesting, Super Flumina, Hamelin gets amazing levels of contrast through the different sections and the op.15 is a first recording (like so much Hamelin) and quite amazing! This is a must for ANY pianophile, Alkan fan or Hamelin fan. |
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